AIIMS doctor seeks memorial for youngest organ donor in India

Senior AIIMS neurosurgeon Dr. Deepak Gupta has called for a memorial and monument in the name of the six-year-old child who donated her organs and saved the lives of five people. Roli Prajapati has become the youngest organ donor in India.

Dr Gupta said the memorial to Prajapati's name will create awareness about organ donation. "Her name must be made memorable by constructing some memorial, monument, park, or anything to raise awareness on this serious issue of organ donation," said the neurosurgeon.

The six-year-old from Noida was shot in her head by unidentified assailants on April 27. After she went into a coma, she was moved to AIIMS, Delhi. After several attempts to revive the child, she was declared brain dead. Dr Gupta said the bullet was lodged in Roli's brain and was in an almost brain-dead condition when she arrived.

After the hospital authorities spoke to the parents about the life-saving possibilities of organ donation, they agreed to the procedure. Dr Gupta's team operated on her on April 30. About Roli's parents, he said it is the finest example of saving lives.

The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO allotted the donated organs. A seven-year-old child from Lucknow received Roli's liver and a 12-year-old received the kidneys. Two other children received her corneas.

Dr Gupta told The Indian Express there was no age-appropriate recipient for the heart valves on that day. "They have been stored and can be transplanted later" He added that there is a long list of children waiting for organ transplants and many of them die while waiting.

All the recipients are doing well in their recovery.